After a 5 year hiatus, looking to get back into an E53

[crystalworks]

Originally Posted by audiophool

It makes a 'clink' noise when first put in reverse. Probably the front driveshaft?

I just fixed a problem with clinking when beginning motion from a stop, whether in forward or reverse. Not sure of the exact cause but here's what cured it. Replaced front driveshaft quibo, greased front driveshaft splines to prevent wear, replaced rear driveshaft guibo, replaced rear driveshaft center support bearing, didn't mess with rear CV joint on the shaft, U-joints felt fine, used anti-seize on parts that had frozen together and made disassembly a royal PITA. BTW, I reused the bolts from the stiffening plate as well with some red locktite torqued to 43ft lbs (I think, memory is fuzzy). All of that done, and the noise is gone. Seems some driveshaft wobble was cured as well... the guibos I removed had cracks but no major failures. They were probably at fault.